The Frateris Militia is the Imperium’s army of true believers: ordinary citizens who take up arms for the Ecclesiarchy when a War of Faith is declared. They’re not a standing force, and that’s exactly the point. They exist in a legal grey zone that keeps the Ministorum from breaking the Decree Passive, and they can be either a tide of fearless martyrs or a mob that turns on its own neighbours.
Why the militia exists at all
The Frateris Militia are the unofficial successors of the Frateris Templars, the Ecclesiarchy’s old armed forces. After the Reign of Blood, the Decree Passive forced the Templars to disband, so the Ministorum could no longer keep its own standing army.
The Militia gets around that ban by not being an official body at all. Its members are just faithful Imperial citizens who show up of their own free will, with no formal link to the Ecclesiarchy, so the letter of the law stays intact even when thousands of zealots are marching under a preacher’s banner.
How a militia gets raised
Most Frateris Militia forces form around a War of Faith. A Preacher or Confessor whips up the local population against a newly discovered cult, a Missionary picks up a following of converts who want to protect him, or a temple comes under attack and its vaults get opened so the clergy and lay members can defend the shrine.
They often fight alongside the Imperial Guard and the Adepta Sororitas. Zealot squads are typically led by Confessor-Sergeants, and the Sororitas have been known to spend Frateris lives by the thousand if it stops the enemy. Some Militia are fanatical enough to charge straight into Chaos Space Marines, who see them as basically Chaos Cultists with a different name on their lips.
A double-edged weapon
The clergy is wary of raising the Militia, and with good reason. Untrained mobs of fanatics are hard to control and can be as dangerous to themselves as to the enemy. They’ll happily kill innocent civilians while hunting heretics.
If the official forces of a War of Faith lose, the Militia often loses focus and breaks down into roving bandit hordes that pillage the locals. But when an inspirational figure holds them together, they’ve shown real courage in situations that would make veteran Guardsmen go pale.
Watching the watchers
The Ordo Hereticus keeps an eye on Frateris Militia activity, making sure they follow the spirit of the Decree Passive and that the old prohibitions stay enforced.
After the Great Rift opened and the Era Indomitus began, the desperation of the times pushed some worlds to lean on the Militia even harder. The Redemptionists, the militant sect behind the Crusade of the Red Redemption, are the most notorious example of how extreme these movements can get.
Key facts
- The Frateris Militia are volunteer zealots raised by the Ecclesiarchy for Wars of Faith.
- They’re the unofficial successors to the Frateris Templars, disbanded by the Decree Passive after the Reign of Blood.
- They have no formal link to the Ministorum, which is what makes them legally tolerable.
- Zealot squads are usually led by Confessor-Sergeants and often fight beside the Guard and the Adepta Sororitas.
- The Ordo Hereticus watches them to enforce the Decree Passive.
- The Redemptionists are the most infamous example of their extreme fringe.
FAQ
Are the Frateris Militia part of the Ecclesiarchy?
No, and that’s deliberate. They’re volunteers with no formal tie to the Ministorum, which is how they sidestep the Decree Passive that disbanded the Frateris Templars.
How do the Frateris Militia compare to the Astra Militarum?
They’re nothing alike in training or equipment. Guardsmen are professional soldiers, while the Militia are untrained zealots who rely on faith and numbers, and they’re just as likely to break and raid the locals as they are to fight well.
Who keeps an eye on them?
The Ordo Hereticus monitors them to make sure they stay within the spirit of the Decree Passive and don’t become a sanctioned army in all but name.